Great year to fly

REFLECTIONS OF FAITH: 2002: A

January 16, 2002|By BY Roger Campbell

Try accepting the encouragement given by the prophet Isaiah more than 2002 years ago to the discouraged and disillusioned people of his time: "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

To wait on the Lord is simply to trust him, even in tough times; it is believing he will come through in answer to our prayers; that he will not let us down. Isaiah says this kind of confidence in God imparts new strength and the ability rise above our difficulties.

In other words, faith enables us to move from fainting to flying.

When visiting our daughter and family in Alaska, my wife, Pauline, and I were intrigued by the great flocks of eagles soaring across the sky. Watching those majestic riders of the Alaskan air currents was an unforgettable experience. And, according to the Bible, faith plugs us into that kind of power for daily living.

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Observing how faith enables the weak to become strong, the Psalmist wrote: "The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid" (Psalm 27:1).

Why then should we begin this new year cowering before cowardly terrorists or fearing the unfolding of the future? This is no time to cry; it's time to fly; no time to acquiesce to our adversaries but a time to advance to more exciting adventures.

The opportunities of 2002 should move us to accept greater challenges than we've ever dared attempt before. Our families, our churches, our communities and our nation should feel the impact of the new strength we've gained by renewing our devotion to God and increasing our faith in him.

Dr. V. Raymond Edman, former president and late chancellor of Wheaton (Illinois) College said: "Faith is dead to doubts, dumb to discouragements, blind to impossibilities, knows nothing but success. Faith lifts its hands up through the threatening clouds and lays hold of Him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Faith makes the uplook good, the outlook bright, the inlook favorable and the future glorious."

Great faith rests on the conviction that God can do anything, adding a new dimension to consider when facing difficulties.

When Thomas Edison began developing the phonograph, he grappled with many problems. The high tones were harsh and the low ones muffled. Edison hired a man to help solve the problems, but after working on them for two years, the man became discouraged and told the great inventor he was ready to give up on the project. Edison urged him to go back and try a little longer, saying, "I believe that for every problem God has given us he has a solution. We may not find it but someday someone will." We all know the results of the extra effort that grew out of Edison's faith in God's ability to reveal answers to all the problems of life.

What do you want to accomplish this year? What dreams have you discarded because of fear? What obstacles are you envisioning that are too big for God to handle?

Exchange your fears for faith and your weakness for his strength.

There are important things for you to do in 2002.

It's your year to fly!

- Roger Campbell is a Waterford minister whose calling includes writing newspaper columns. You may write him at PO Box 301004, Waterford, MI 48330; or e-mail him at rcministry@ameritech.net. See his Web page at RogerCampbellMinistries.com